Trading Dame?

[GEE]

I think it's very possible that when Boston was having their troubles earlier in the season and whispers of a possible roster shakeup was being rumored in bean-town, Dame may have been a player of mention. I don't know this of course, but can easily imagine this happening amongst some within the C's organization.

Many months later, the Celtics just squeaked their way into ECF, and just couldn't keep that home court advantage against GS. Point is... they are clearly really close and in that window. Someone mentioned the sacrifice of a possible 8 year window, for an even better shot over the next 3... I think that discussion is very possibly being had by some again.

Would be a great move for all parties IMO, but a ridiculously difficult decision to make for all:

- Celtics will become Vegas favorites instantly with GS and could likely beat them next year, resulting in at least one championship over Dame & Horford's last years.
- Portland nearly completes a great rebuild in just one year, increasing (in MY estimation) the overall value of this team, like back when we had a young LA, BROY & Oden.
- Dame does like Clyde (and many many others) goes to Boston for a few years and gets to win it all! No legacy lost in Portland either. HIs number (or letter) will still be retired and hang high in our rafters, and I could even envision him returning to the Blazers in a few years, when Portland is ready and needs that final piece to make our run at the WCF's. He could still be a part of one here.

Not likely to happen obviously, but I'd take: Brown / Theis / Future 1st for Dame in a NY minute.

A ridiculously tough decision to make by all parties.

[Norm2953]

Im doubtful Boston has enough offensive weapons to win a title as constructed but Dame with Tatum balances out their roster.

Meanwhile Portland with Ant, Nurk and Brown is solid

[wco81]

If they entertained breaking up Brown and Tatum earlier in the season, I think that's all over now since the team took off and made the Finals.

[Dame Lizard]

If they entertained breaking up Brown and Tatum earlier in the season, I think that's all over now since the team took off and made the Finals.

Agreed. When your young core is all ~25 years old and locked up on long-term contracts, and you just made the NBA Finals, I seldom think a franchise would break that up.

If a GM did that and it didn't work, it could cost them their job. Whereas if they simply didn't win championship, the fact is most teams don't, so there is far more downside than upside imo.

[m0ng0]

We could create a "young core" around Simon's and Little in about 5 seconds, but instead we are keeping an aging superstar who may or may not come back from his injury to play for a system he clearly struggled in at times and "may" demand a monster extension at some point. But instead we would rather be a mid pack team that will just get worse as our superstar continues to age and have no assets when the lightbulb comes on.

[GEE]

We could create a "young core" around Simon's and Little in about 5 seconds, but instead we are keeping an aging superstar who may or may not come back from his injury to play for a system he clearly struggled in at times and "may" demand a monster extension at some point. But instead we would rather be a mid pack team that will just get worse as our superstar continues to age and have no assets when the lightbulb comes on.

I expect Dame to be back to his former self, health-wise, but what has concerned me all along is exactly what you point out:

- Dame from what I saw, did not look good playing in Chauncey's style of BBALL, and I have a hard time believing that will change. Contract issues aside. To win a title here in Portland, we will need to acquire at least one top 20 talent to pair with Dame, and I just don't see that level of player out there, coming here.
- The Contract issue is also a big factor IMO, as I think moving on from Dame provides financial flexibility that a potential new owner would like, plus a pretty good haul of assets to play with.

Dame is at the peak of his prime and must decide how important a title is to him, because as long as he remains in Portland, he ain't gettin' one. Last summer had a large number of big name players changing zipcodes, but this year is quite the opposite. That's the reality IMO. I guess we could target a big name F/A in next summers' class, but I have no idea if there's even a top 20 guy in there.

That is why I'd rather just move on to something different, that isn't a recycled version of the past attempts. I want to finish this rebuild now by moving Dame to a contender of his choice, as long as we can get an acceptable package back. And I think Dame's trade value will remain stagnant: What it was entering last years season. I think there where TONS of options for trading just a year or so ago, but that I strongly think this will only continue to lessen.

[Wizenheimer]

We could create a "young core" around Simon's and Little in about 5 seconds, but instead we are keeping an aging superstar who may or may not come back from his injury to play for a system he clearly struggled in at times and "may" demand a monster extension at some point. But instead we would rather be a mid pack team that will just get worse as our superstar continues to age and have no assets when the lightbulb comes on.

LOL at Simons and Little being a 'young core' Portland could build around. Portland would be starting behind about 28 other teams in the league who have better young cores. Little can't stay healthy and Simons put together a stretch of good 25 games, in his 4th season, in games that meant nothing. Chucking away the franchise player in order to build around Simons and Little is a hell of a lot more stupid than trying to build a competitive team around that franchise player

right now, Simons is at best, a supporting player. You don't build a team around a supporting player unless you want to out-King the Sacramento Kings

[wco81]

I think the Blazers have to make a choice between a hard rebuild and trying to build around Dame.

But seems like they're straddling both options.

#7 could be a good player in this draft but unless the team can completely turn things around this season, what would be their ceiling, a first-round exit team, with the way the WC is shaping up?

Or do you play the youngsters a lot and try to get into the lottery again, try to accumulate high-ceiling talent for a couple more years while the old cores of the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers all age out?

What if the Blazers land Wembayama? Or at least a potential all-NBA player?

[m0ng0]

We could create a "young core" around Simon's and Little in about 5 seconds, but instead we are keeping an aging superstar who may or may not come back from his injury to play for a system he clearly struggled in at times and "may" demand a monster extension at some point. But instead we would rather be a mid pack team that will just get worse as our superstar continues to age and have no assets when the lightbulb comes on.

LOL at Simons and Little being a 'young core' Portland could build around. Portland would be starting behind about 28 other teams in the league who have better young cores. Little can't stay healthy and Simons put together a stretch of good 25 games, in his 4th season, in games that meant nothing. Chucking away the franchise player in order to build around Simons and Little is a hell of a lot more stupid than trying to build a competitive team around that franchise player

right now, Simons is at best, a supporting player. You don't build a team around a supporting player unless you want to out-King the Sacramento Kings

I respect your opinion but we are NOT building a competitive team around Dame are we? Have I missed something? Every year on the treadmill our superstar gets another year older.

Pick the best team we have had in 10 years and we are still a first round bounce. What makes you think this is the year we build a winner around Dame? Free agents don't come here,. Historically this team wins thru the draft because the drafted players are literally forced to stay here.

I would rather hang my hat on a 22 year old who we can add potentially 4 top 10 picks around in the next 2 years than a Collins, Grant or Randle.

Another thing to ponder is WHY don't free agents want to play with Dame? Is it because they can see they are going nowhere regardless and would rather try to win somewhere else? Does the town suck that much (which I'm kinda agree with personally) there has got to be something more to it but the bottom line is NOBODY who has huge upside EVER comes here.

[JRoy]

Blow. It. Up.

[GEE]

I think the Blazers have to make a choice between a hard rebuild and trying to build around Dame.

But seems like they're straddling both options.

#7 could be a good player in this draft but unless the team can completely turn things around this season, what would be their ceiling, a first-round exit team, with the way the WC is shaping up?

Or do you play the youngsters a lot and try to get into the lottery again, try to accumulate high-ceiling talent for a couple more years while the old cores of the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers all age out?

What if the Blazers land Wembayama? Or at least a potential all-NBA player?

I agree strongly with all of this, to include the possible straddling. I think the Blazers could be exciting again, if they just move on.

Also, I don't see how rebuilding around Simons, is any different than deciding to build around Dame years ago. We now have the #7 pick in this draft... just don't draft CJ again. We could IMO be 2/3rds of the way toward being where we were with Roy, LA & Oden. One year away from returning to greatness.

And to be clear... I don't want to sacrifice the #7 for OG, Grant, Dort, Collins, or any of the other mid-level stars that get mentioned in rumors. I've said it before, if that's the best return you can muster than I'd much rather just draft Williams at #7 and pair him with Simons. Of course I'd rather get Williams with a later lottery pick and go BPA at #7, but that will require trading Dame, which I'm obviously for.

[Jsun947]

We could trade Dame for something like Fox, Holmes, and #4 then flip Fox/Holmes for picks. We could trade Hart for a pick, probably S&T Nurk for a future pick.

We’d probably be one of the best chances to win the lotto next year with upwards of 80 mil in cap space

[Norm2953]

Portland isn't trading Dame until he gets back onto the court to re-establish value.

One can see however if he's playing at his previous level and the team is lingering in the 7-8 spot
in the conference, Portland sending him off to a contender.

Let's see how management treats the 2022 draft and free agency period. Will they pay lip service
to building around Dame or really try to compete for the sixth spot in the conference?

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Another thing to ponder is WHY don't free agents want to play with Dame? Is it because they can see they are going nowhere regardless and would rather try to win somewhere else? Does the town suck that much (which I'm kinda agree with personally) there has got to be something more to it but the bottom line is NOBODY who has huge upside EVER comes here.

Income tax and small market has always made Portland a tough free agent sell, typically that is why we have to overpay for free agents, even when we resign our own guys. Most teams are either in a big fun city/market with lots of additional financial opportunities or they are in a state with favorable tax laws for high income earners - few have that same toxic combo as Oregon.

People wonder why players signed in Texas or LA instead of here for the same money or why we constantly overpay (SPAM) our players and I don't think its too hard to figure out. Some of it is bad decision making certainly, but some of it is also playing at a geographical and financial disadvantage compared to certain other markets.

I think Dame is about the main draw Portland does have, but consider that he takes a ton of shots and is "the Man" in Portland so top free agents might see themselves coming here and being his Robin.

The reality is, it's just unfair being a Blazer fan sometimes.

[soobias]

for all those who wanna keep DAME and get mid lvl talent in hopes of making the playoffs (round1-2) and extend him for the 50+ mil a year...

all i ask is keep that same energy when the team does exactly the same as it's been doing and we keep having the same discussions about competing with the rest of the west.

[Dame Lizard]

People keep bringing up Dame being our greatest franchise player, but that doesn't detract from the fact that we simply can't develop a contending team with what we have. Our previous GM wasted most of his prime, which only leaves us with ~3 years to complete the mother of all retools.

Given we aren't a free agent destination, the draft is Portland's best tool to build something special.

Sacrificing that for a team who is first or second round fodder is simply not worth it.

This is our highest pick in years. Let's not forget we used the #6 pick to acquire Dame, in exchange for Gerald Wallace. Let's not be short-sighted enough to trade our #7 pick for a new Gerald Wallace.

Shaedon Sharpe makes no sense for our current team, but I'm starting to think it's the best high risk, high reward move that we can make. I'd be happy with Dyson too, although I see him as being more of an elite glue guy (who is invaluable on a championship contender mind you).

[BlazersBroncos]

I would have no issue moving Dame if I thought we could get fair value, I just dont see that with him coming off an injury (+ no team with blue chip picks would make a move for him IMO).

In addition the few established young-ish guys I would move Dame for are not likely avaliable IMO (I dont think BOS moves Brown for example).

[wjun15]

random idea

Trade Dame in S/T for Ayton (suns need to replace cp3 whos gonna retire soon)

Draft Sharpe


PG: Simons
SG: Sharpe
SF: Little
PF:
C: Ayton

Thats a nice core. Tank one more year and get VICTOR

[Dame Lizard]

random idea

Trade Dame in S/T for Ayton (suns need to replace cp3 whos gonna retire soon)

Draft Sharpe


PG: Simons
SG: Sharpe
SF: Little
PF:
C: Ayton

Thats a nice core. Tank one more year and get VICTOR

What else can the Suns offer? They'd need to be giving back A LOT of draft capital. An amount that they'd probably be unwilling to give.

[m0ng0]

random idea

Trade Dame in S/T for Ayton (suns need to replace cp3 whos gonna retire soon)

Draft Sharpe


PG: Simons
SG: Sharpe
SF: Little
PF:
C: Ayton

Thats a nice core. Tank one more year and get VICTOR

I'm all for trading Dame but that right there would not fly. Ayton could be a cancer and is marginally better than Nurk and would cost twice as much. I want another top 10 pick this year and another first next year and possibly some quality role players.

I'm not hearing good things about Sharpe the person, or the player.